Hepatitis C elimination symposium
About the event
Finland has committed to the WHO goal to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. Despite that, the number of people diagnosed with HCV has remained steady for decades and the prevalence of HCV is much higher in Finland than in other Nordic countries. Despite Finland being considered as a country of modern technology, there are still significant data gaps which makes is challenging to estimate the true number of infected needing treatment.
Around 99% of HCV infections in Finland are considered to be among people who inject drugs (PWID), translating to three major groups: current or previous PWID, and prisoners. With today’s program we hope to learn from others and discuss how we can tackle this issue together – what has been done elsewhere to achieve the elimination, what are the national plans in Finland and where are we with this issue in Turku? We also aim to bring together the different parties being involved with this process: diagnostic laboratories, health care facilities including those looking after the active drug users (Milli in Turku), or looking after those currently receiving drug-replacement therapy (MIEPA, VARHA) and prison services, as well as gastroenterologist overseeing their treatment.
This meeting is followed by the Finnish Virology Days, which we are organising in Turku 19-20.3.2026.
Registration: Please reserve your place by filling your details via the link on this page. Places are limited to 100 participants, and participation is anticipated to be free.
Organisors:
Heli Harvala, Professor of Virology and Chief medical officer, Institute of
Biomedicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital
Kimmo Salminen, Chief medical officer, Abdominal Centre – Gastroenterology, Turku University Hospital
Miia Laine, Chief medical officer, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital
Kaisu Rantakokko, Chief Medical Officer, Laboratory Services, Turku University Hospital
Event is organized in collaboration with the Turku University Hospital’s Expert Centre for Infection and Microbiology, the Finnish Foundation for Virology and the ESCMID study groups on Viral Hepatitis (ESGVH) and Public Health Microbiology (ESGPHM).
Program:
11.00-12.00 SESSION 1: GLOBAL HEPATITIS C ELIMINATION
ESCMID Speaker: What can we learn from the global elimination of hepatitis C?
Prof Oana Sandulescu, Romania (confirmed)
ECDC Speaker: Elimination of Hepatitis C in Europe – situation
Dr Erika Duffell, ECDC, Sweden (confirmed)
LUNCH
13.30-14.30 SESSION 2: HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTIONS IN FINLAND
Henrikki Brummer-Korvenkontio, THL, Finland: Hepatitis C elimination plan in Finland (confirmed)
Riitta Ratia, Turku, Finland: It is doable…. data from Hepatitis C elimination pilot in Turku
COFFEE
15.00-16.00 SESSION 3: IMPORTANCE OF HITTING HARD…. FIND, TEST AND TREAT…
To be confirmed: How to find them all – from PWID, to those psychiatric care or in prisons…
To be confirmed: What we need to consider if introducing testing at the mobile laboratory?
To be confirmed: Do not miss the opportunity – MRSA is also a concern!
Offered talk x 2
16.00-17.00 SESSION 4: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Finland has committed to the WHO goal to eliminate hepatitis C by 2030. Despite that, the number of people diagnosed with HCV has remained steady for decades and the prevalence of HCV is much higher in Finland than in other Nordic countries. Despite Finland being considered as a country of modern technology, there are still significant data gaps which makes is challenging to estimate the true number of infected needing treatment.
Around 99% of HCV infections in Finland are considered to be among people who inject drugs (PWID), translating to three major groups: current or previous PWID, and prisoners. With today’s program we hope to learn from others and discuss how we can tackle this issue together – what has been done elsewhere to achieve the elimination, what are the national plans in Finland and where are we with this issue in Turku? We also aim to bring together the different parties being involved with this process: diagnostic laboratories, health care facilities including those looking after the active drug users (Milli in Turku), or looking after those currently receiving drug-replacement therapy (MIEPA, VARHA) and prison services, as well as gastroenterologist overseeing their treatment.
This meeting is followed by the Finnish Virology Days, which we are organising in Turku 19-20.3.2026.
Registration: Please reserve your place by filling your details via the link on this page. Places are limited to 100 participants, and participation is anticipated to be free.
Organisors:
Heli Harvala, Professor of Virology and Chief medical officer, Institute of
Biomedicine, University of Turku and Turku University Hospital
Kimmo Salminen, Chief medical officer, Abdominal Centre – Gastroenterology, Turku University Hospital
Miia Laine, Chief medical officer, Department of Clinical Microbiology, Turku University Hospital
Kaisu Rantakokko, Chief Medical Officer, Laboratory Services, Turku University Hospital
Event is organized in collaboration with the Turku University Hospital’s Expert Centre for Infection and Microbiology, the Finnish Foundation for Virology and the ESCMID study groups on Viral Hepatitis (ESGVH) and Public Health Microbiology (ESGPHM).
Program:
11.00-12.00 SESSION 1: GLOBAL HEPATITIS C ELIMINATION
ESCMID Speaker: What can we learn from the global elimination of hepatitis C?
Prof Oana Sandulescu, Romania (confirmed)
ECDC Speaker: Elimination of Hepatitis C in Europe – situation
Dr Erika Duffell, ECDC, Sweden (confirmed)
LUNCH
13.30-14.30 SESSION 2: HEPATITIS C VIRUS INFECTIONS IN FINLAND
Henrikki Brummer-Korvenkontio, THL, Finland: Hepatitis C elimination plan in Finland (confirmed)
Riitta Ratia, Turku, Finland: It is doable…. data from Hepatitis C elimination pilot in Turku
COFFEE
15.00-16.00 SESSION 3: IMPORTANCE OF HITTING HARD…. FIND, TEST AND TREAT…
To be confirmed: How to find them all – from PWID, to those psychiatric care or in prisons…
To be confirmed: What we need to consider if introducing testing at the mobile laboratory?
To be confirmed: Do not miss the opportunity – MRSA is also a concern!
Offered talk x 2
16.00-17.00 SESSION 4: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION
Katri Kulmala